Neck misalignment: Symptoms, signs and treatments

Neck misalignment can reveal itself in a number of different ways. This condition can lead to serious discomfort and even chronic neck pain. If you feel a sharp pain in your neck after a long day of work, or experience neck pain when you wake up in the morning, you may be suffering from neck misalignment. When symptoms like these begin to appear, it is important to find treatment options that can provide relief.

Neck misalignment is a condition that occurs when the vertebrae in your neck are not properly aligned. This condition is also known as upper cervical misalignment. The misaligned vertebrae that produce this condition are part of your spinal column. When the vertebrae fall out of alignment and grind up against other parts of your spine like bones and nerves, the result can be very painful. 

Symptoms of neck misalignment

If you are suffering from neck misalignment, these symptoms may affect your daily life. Neck misalignment varies in severity, and not all people experience all of the same symptoms. Below are some of the most common symptoms reported:

  • Neck pain — This is the most common symptom of neck misalignment. Neck pain from misalignment can feel sharp or dull for different people, or even for the same person at different times. Pain from neck misalignment can also spread to other parts of the body. Someone with neck misalignment may feel aches and pains in their neck, shoulders and upper back.
  • Headaches — Like pain, headaches caused by neck misalignment can vary in intensity. They can also be felt in different parts of the head. These headaches can occur multiple times throughout the day and last for minutes at a time. The main cause of these headaches is nerve irritation and compression, which is caused by tension due to neck misalignment.
  • Numbness — Compression and irritation of nerves can also lead to sensations of tingling and numbness. Even when these symptoms are caused by misalignment in the neck, they may be felt throughout the body. Nerve pinching in the neck can lead to numbness in the hands and fingers.

Signs of neck misalignment

While the symptoms of neck misalignment are felt by the patient, signs are issues that can be observed externally by another individual. A health care specialist may use these signs to assist their diagnosis of neck misalignment.

  • Limited movement — Neck misalignment can cause a patient’s range of motion to be limited. If you have difficulty moving your head up and down or side to side, it may be a sign of neck misalignment.
  • Cracking sounds — These sounds can happen when someone moves or stretches their neck. Loud cracking or popping can be a sign of a misaligned neck. Though people with proper neck alignment can exhibit this sign as well, it is important to determine whether the frequency and intensity of the cracking noises fall into a normal range. 
  • Swelling and inflammation — Neck misalignment can cause certain muscles and tissue to swell. This can make those parts of your body tender and more vulnerable to pain. Swelling and inflammation around the neck can be a clear sign of neck misalignment.

Treatments for neck misalignment

When it comes to treating neck misalignment symptoms, it is important to consider the core issue. A solution that leads to neck realignment or prevents future misalignment can yield great results over time. It can also help to combine treatment options. Physical therapy specialists can work with you to build a treatment plan that incorporates multiple sources of relief.

  • Pain medication — Over-the-counter pain medication can help relieve symptoms of neck misalignment in the short term. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants or other medications to help relieve pain and muscle tension. While medication can be helpful, it does not address the root causes of your symptoms. For long-lasting relief, it may be more useful to use other neck pain relief solutions.
  • Manual therapy Manual therapy is the practice of hands-on physical therapy treatment. Physical therapy specialists use specialized manual techniques designed to improve the patient’s health and alleviate pain. They can often realign the spinal column, addressing neck misalignment at the source.
  • Therapeutic exercise — Another way to address neck misalignment while improving general health is therapeutic exercise. Through a personalized exercise program, you can work to improve range of motion and alleviate tension built up by neck misalignment. Physical therapy techniques like this can also improve your posture, which can prevent future misalignments.

Find treatment options for your neck misalignment symptoms at Panther Physical Therapy

Are you ready to address the symptoms of your neck misalignment? At Panther Physical Therapy, you can get help from our expert team of physical therapy specialists. With a record of delivering clinical excellence for 20 years, you can trust us to address your neck misalignment with a range of effective treatment options.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment to treat your neck misalignment.